Deicer fluid distributor



Jan. 13, 1942. E. MOSEHAUER DEICER FLUID DISTRIBUTOR .F iled Dec. 27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Edward Mosehauer ATTORNEY Jan. 13, 1942. E. MOSE'A UER 2,269535 DEICER FLUIDiDi-STRIBUTOR 7 Filed Dec. 2 7, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO Edward Moseh er ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 13, 1942.

mnoaa FLUID ms'rrnnu'roa Edward Mosehauer, Hartford, Conn, assignor to United Aircraft Corporation, East Hartford,

Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application December 27, 1940, Serial No. 371,854

8 Claims. (Cl. 244134) This invention relates to improvements in ence to an improved arrangement for carrying de-icing fluid, to the blade surfaces of such a propeller.

An object of the invention resides in the provi-.

sion of an improved de-icing fiuid distributor for a propeller blade, incorporated entirely within thestructure of the blade.

A further object resides in the provision of an improved de-icing fluid distributor of the character indicated which will distribute de-ic'ing fluid evenly alongthe. length-of the blade while the fluid is being subjected to centrifugal forces incident to rotation of the propeller.

- aeronautical propellers and has particular refer- A still further object resides in the provision of a de-icing fluid distributor of the character indicated whichwill regulate the flow of the deicing fluid to various portions of the blade along the blade length and provide a reasonably uniform distribution of suchfluid-over the entire portion of the blade on which ice is likely to form.

Other objects and advantages will be more particularly pointed out hereinafter or will become apparent as the description proceeds.

- In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are utilized to designate similar parts throughout, there, is illustrated a suitable mechanical embodiment for the purpose of disclosing the invention. The drawings, however, are for the purpose of illustration only and are not to be taken as limiting or restricting the,

invention since it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the illustrated construction may be resorted to with-, out in any way exceeding'the scope of the invention.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a longitudinal sectional view of a fragmentary portion of a propeller blade showing a tie-icing fluid distributor, constructed according to the invention, applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of a fragmentary portion of the propeller blade and deicing fluid distributor taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of a fragmentary portion of the propeller blade and the de-icing fluid distributor taken on the line 3-3 propeller blade and de-icing fluid distributor taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the Y propeller blade and de-icing fluid distributor. .T'taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of certain of the elements shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. '7, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a fragmentary portion of a propeller blade showing a modified form of de-icing fluid distributing means.

Referring to. the drawings in detail, the numeral It! generally indicates a propeller blade having a rounded shank portion which fairs at one end into the blade form and is terminated at the other end by a retaining flange I! which provides "a s eat for an anti-friction thrust bearing 14 for retaining the blade in a propeller hub.

The shank portion of the blade is encasedin a shank fairing cuff Hi. This cuff is shaped to extend the streamlined or airfoil contour of the blade over the rounded shank portion thereof and is preferably formed of some light weight material such as a closed cell expanded rubber composition or a composition of thermoplastic material and granulated cork or some other suit able light weight material.

synthetic rubber or thermoplastic material and may have an exterior coating 20 of somesuitable material which will give a smooth com- I perpendicular to the longitudinal axis .of the peller.

blade and is provided with two weight containe ers 22 and 24 located one at each side of the propeller blade in the trailing and leading edge portions of the cuff respectively. Each of thesecon tainers may conveniently comprise a cup shaped 'metal member imbedded in the cuff and a cover for the open end of the member having a threaded stem projecting into the cup and carrying a pluralityof weight discs, as indicatedv at 26 and 28.

These weight discs may be adjusted to balance the opposite edges of the individual propeller blades and may also be adjusted to provide a condition of static balance of' the entire pro- A conduit in the form of a metal tube 30 leads from a universal joint connection 32, set into the end portion of the cuff adjacent the blade shank This cufi may be bonded to.the surface of the blade shank by a' layer l8 of bonding material such as rubber or able.

preferably immediately at the rear of the blade shank, into the inner end of the cup member 24 through a screw or strainerindicated at 33. From the end of the tube 34 within the cup member 24 a bent tubular conduit 34, which may be integral with the tube 30 or separate therefrom as convenience in manufacture and assembly may require, leads through the bottom 'of the cup member 24 and into a small chamber 35 of elongated rectangular shape, as is particularly shown in Fig. 3. This chamber has its major dimension in a direction chordwise of the blade and is preferably bounded by a thin metal wall sealed at one end to thebottom of the cup member 24 and provided at its opposite end with an end closure in the form of a tube sheet 36 so tion near the inner end of the cuff to drain any excess accumulation of de-icing fluid and a plurality of tubes 49. of relatively small diameter, extend through the tube sheet 36 to which they are sealed against leakage of de-lcing fluid, to positions spaced along the leading edge of the cuif outwardly from the end of the tube 38, some of these positions being indicated by the numerals 42, 44 and 46. It is to be noted that each of the small tubes 40 leads from the interior of the chamber 35 through the tube sheet 36 and to its respective position in the leading edge of the cuff thus providing a continuous smooth channel from each fluid outlet in the leading edge of the cuff to the interior of the chamber 35, and that the tube nearest the leading edge of the cuff leads to the position nearest the inner end while successive tubes positioned in a direction away from the leading edge of the cuff lead to positions located successively outwardly along the leading edge.

In the arrangement illustrated the tubes are arranged in a single row, as is particularly shown in Fig. 5, and open into the elongated chamber 35 in a line extending substantially chordwise of the blade. material of the blade cuff during formation of the cuff or may be located in a slot provided in the cuff member, the slot being afterwards filled with a suitable plastic material, and may be arranged in other ways than the single row mentioned above. For example, two or more rows or circles may be used if found convenient or desir- The tube 34 leads into the chamber 35 at the end thereof adjacent to the blade shank and terminates short of the tube sheet 36 at the outer end of the chamber. Between the chamber included ends of the tubes 40 and the open end of the tube 34 thereis disposed a fluid distributing member 48, in the form of a wick, pad, or block of porous material such as felt, screening or ceramic material, and between the endof the tube 34 and the adjacent surface of the pad 48 there is disposed a small baffle member 50 for evenly distributing fluid over the adjacent surface of the wick member 48. The end of the tube 34 may conveniently be soldered to the adjacent surface of this battle member to firmly support the baiile, and one or more apertures, as indicated at and 53 may be provided in the tube wall near the baffle to permit fluid to flow These tubes may be molded into the I evenly out of the tube and along the surface of the baffle member and spread uniformly towards the end of the chamber opposite the end at which. I

the tube 34 is located. The baille 50 is slightly tapered so that some fluid can flow over at least one edge thereof to the pad 48 while the remaining fluid will be forced by the baffle to move towards the above mentioned end of the chamber. This arrangement provides a substantially uniform distribution of de-icing fluid over the inner surface of the pad 48 and the pad then distributes the fluid in substantially uniform quantities to the various tubes so that there will be substantially equal amounts of de-icing fluid flowing from the substantially equally spaced fluid outlets 42, 44, 46, etc. in the leading edge of the cuff. The pad 48 preferably rests on the ends of the tubes projecting within the. container 35 to provide a small fluid reservoir between the pad and the tube sheet 36 to assist in the proper distribution of the de-icing fluid to the tubes 40.

The universal joint connection 32 receives one end of a tubular conduit 52 comprising two telescoping menibers, the opposite end of which is secured in a universal joint 54 carried by a fluid reservoir or slinger ring 56. This arrangement provides a flexible fluid tight connection between the inertia of the ring 56 and the fluid receiving end of the tube 30.

In the arrangement shown in Fig.' 9 the baffle plate is omitted and the de-icing fluid is distributed to the porous member 48 through a suitable member 58 disposed within the receptacle 35. This member may be a solid block provided with apertures, as indicated at 6B, 62 and 64,1eading from the end of the tube 34 to properly spaced locations along the porous member 48. If desired, a space may be provided in the member 58 at the end of the tube 34 and a second porous member 66 may be disposed in this space to facil-- itate the proper distribution of the de-icing fluid to the apertures 60, 62 and B4.

Other means may be utilized for distributing the fluid to the porous member adjacent the tube sheet as may occur to those skilled in the art, and in some cases a satisfactory distribution of fluid from the end of the fluid conduit 34 may be obtained without the introduction of any intermediate means between the end of this tube and the same, what it is desired to secure by Letters tacle.

2. In a propeller blade having a rounded blade shank surrounded by a shank cuff, a de-icing fluid distribution system comprising, a fluid receptacle, a plurality of fluid ,conduits leading from said receptacle to different stations along the leading edge of said cuff, and means within said receptacle for providing a desired distribution of de-icing fluid between the individual conduits leading from said receptacle, one of said conduits being larger than the other conduit and leading from the space within said receptacle ahead of said fluid distribution means to the fluid outlet station nearest the hub" end of said'cufi. 3. In a propeller blade, a de-icing fluid system comprising, a fluid receptacle, a plurality of fluid ducts leading from said receptacle to different stations along the leading edge of said blade, and means within said receptacle for providing a desired distribution of de-icing fluid between the individual ducts leading from said receptacle, said distributing means comprising a body of fluid permeable material in said receptacle.

- 4. In a propeller blade, a de-icing fluid distribution system comprising, a fluid receptacle, a plurality of fluid conduitsleading from said receptacle to diflerent stations along the leading edge of said blade, at least a portion of said conduits being secured adjacent their ends in a tube sheet constituting one end of said receptacle, and

a body of fluid permeable material in the tube sheet end of said receptacle to distribute fluid to said conduit.

5. In a propeller blade, a de-icing fluid dis-' tribution system comprising, a fluid receptacle within said blade, a plurality of fluid ducts extending along said blade from said receptacle to and the shank end of the blade from a line perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said blade whereby the action of centrifugal force on dedjflerent stations along" the leading edge of said blade, at least a portion of said conduits being secured adjacent their ends in a tube sheet constituting one end of said Jreceptacle, a body of fluid permeable material in the end of said receptacle adjacent said tube sheet to distribute fluidto said conduits, and a conduit extending,

from a source of fluid supply leading into said receptacle along one side thereof and terminating adjacent to the inner surface'of said body of fluid permeable material.

6. In a propeller'blade, a de-icing fluid system comprising, a fluid receptacle extending in the icing fluid in said receptacle will create substantially equal fluid pressures along the extent of said receptacle and, a plurality of fluid ducts leading from said end of said receptacle to different stations along the leading edge of said blade, and means within said receptacle for providing a desired fluid distribution between said ducts, said means including a body of fluid permeable material in said receptacle.

7. In a propeller blade, a de-icing fluid system comprising, a fluid receptacle, a plurality of fluid ducts leading from said receptacle to different stations along the leading edge of said blade, and means within said receptacle'for providing a desired distribution of de-icing fluid between the individual ducts leading from said receptacle, said distributing means comprising a body of fluid permeable material in said receptacle and means carrying de-icing fluid into said receptacle and depositing said fluid along the surface of said body of fluid permeable material opposite the surface thereof adjacent to said ducts whereby centrifugal force incident to propeller rotation will cause said fluid to spread along said first mentioned surface of said body and pass through said fluid permeable material to said ducts.

8. In a propeller blade, a de-icing fluid distribution system comprising, a fluid receptacle,

a plurality of fluid conduits leading from said receptacle to different stations along the leading edge of said blade, at least a portion of said conduits being secured adjacent their ends in a tube sheet constituting one endof said receptacle, and a body of fluid permeable material in the end of said receptacle adjacent said tube sheet to distribute fluid to said conduit the ends of said conduits extending inwardly through said tube sheet to provide' between said tube sheet and said body of permeable material a space for the accumulation of a small quantity of de-icing fluid. EDWARD MOSEHAUER. 

